Hospital made a mistake

[Happymam6710]

My daughter (age 9) broke her left wrist at school on Tuesday. We were told that she had a buckle fracture and for this type of fracture she needed to wear a splint for 4 weeks.While being seen by a doctor he sent for a nurse to go and get a splint. The nurse fitted the splint in front of the doctor. Yesterday we went to my friends house and her little girl who is the same age as my daughter noticed that my daughters splint was on upside down. My friends daughter had the same injury a few months ago which is how she knew. So metal part was on the top of her wrist instead of underneath.

After googling it we took a trip back to same hospital who confirmed that it was on wrong and they had given her a right handed splint for her left arm. I asked if there would be any long term damage with her wearing it incorrectly for nearly a week. The nurse said hopefully not but she could not say for certain.

I'm really annoyed about it to be honest. The nurse apologised and said that if I wanted to make a complaint I could. I said that I don't really want to because it's the NHS but also worried about it not healing properly. What do you think I should do? If we hadn't of seen my friend today she could have been wearing it wrong for the next 4 weeks.

Complain

Im an NHS manager who actually has to deal with the complaints and this needs to be discussed with the nurse who fitted the splint.

youre not wasting anyone’s time

You need to complain.

Nothing will ever change otherwise

I'm not usually one for complaining about the NHS either but this is someone who maybe either is incompetent or poorly trained which could have serious consequences so I would at least start a conversation about it even if it didn't end up in a formal complaint

A complaint is not necessarily a bad thing for the NHS - it identifies employee error and most likely further training will be offered. This is a positive for other/future patients of the NHS.

You need to make a complaint, the NHS still needs to be accountable for mistakes, it's not a bad thing. The nurse needs to know she's made an error so she doesn't repeat it and your daughter deserves you advocating for her.

you should highlight this in case of future issues

How has it been put on upside down? I can’t picture it!!! What does the splint look like?
Anyway, a buckle fracture is a simple fracture that should heal well so I wouldn’t worry on that point.

I’d say complain but word it so that you’re only doing it because you want it as a learning opportunity. If it has been fitted wrong the team who fitted it need to know so they can learn from it. If actually it was fine, the nurse who told you it was wrong needs to know.
Nobody will get in trouble or lose their job etc but they’ll hopefully get told and not do it again.

Exactly the same thing happened to my mate's son. They spotted it the same day at home, but my god, absolutely ridiculous.

My son had a buckle fracture - I am guessing no issue but just ring hospital ask for number of fracture clinic and ring them to ask / get an appt / ask fracture dr to call you

Complain.
This sort of negligence could lead to long term issues for an injury. It shouldn’t be overlooked.

Complain and request extra follow up to check no damage done (as part of what they can do to put it right for you).

I'm a nurse and would be very upset if I'd made that mistake and would definitely take it on the chin and welcome the appropriate training. Was the dr supervising her?

Doesn't have to be a formal complaint (but can be if you wish). Its important that we get feedback in the nhs, both positive and negative, it helps with learning and doing better next time

You should absolutely complain otherwise it could happen to someone else who might not notice. Mistakes happen all the time.
I broke my ankle many years ago. It took 3.5 weeks to get it diagnosed. I couldn't walk or even put any weight on it. I went to A&E twice only to be told I wasn't trying hard enough. GP referred me for an MRI on the wrong foot so had to reschedule the appointment. By the time I was diagnosed, the damage was done and I've been left with life long problems and pain that cannot be fixed. I've moved abroad since then and the doctors here can't believe how this was able to happen.

Yes I would provide feedback. It sounds like someone needs some training so it doesnt happen again.

Immombilisation is the most important aspect of a splint. When you go to the fracture clinic tell them this is what happened as well so they can take it into account during assessment.

Feeling angry about it is perfectly natural, most of us would feel the same.

Also the doctor who supervised and didn't apparently see anything wrong.

Definitely complain. Don't let the fact that its the NHS put you off complaining, just because its free at point of use doesn't mean mistakes don't matter.

Complain, I recently complained, basically in the hopes of training given and the same thing not happening to someone else.
nhs is even more reason to complain tbh, it’s someone’s health, it’s not just moaning for the sake of it or complaining that Amazon was a day late or whatever.

A doctor doesn’t supervise a nurse. They are an independent practitioner, fully qualified to do it right by themselves.

it would be demeaning to nurses and a shameful waste of dr time if they had to ‘supervise or check’ every nursing action.

I'd complain. They can't even begin to address a mistake they don't know they've made.

The NHS hold our lives in their hands. It's a wonderful thing that comes with great responsibility.

If you're uncomfortable complaining, just think of it as informing them so it doesn't happen to someone else.

I am not sure if I would complain but I think I would have requested another xray to check how it was healing.

Why wouldn't you complain because it's the NHS.

It's not some godly organisation that you need to put on a pedestal.

An incompetent member of staff has fitted something incorrectly which could potentially cause permanent damage to your daughter.

Lucky it's a wrist, imagine if it was something life threatening.

how would you feel if you found out your complaint could have stopped it.

Absolutely complain. Unless they are told they can’t address mistakes like this.